New Arsenal 1st Team COACH? (Thanks to Getty Images)
It now seems that our ex-skipper and the man who lead us to our first trophy in nine years in 2014 will be our new COACH and I for one am quite excited at the prospect. I have a soft spot for the man I admit and seemingly an affinity with him. I don’t write often these days but there was a time when I did, and two speculative articles in particular come to mind. Firstly, in the summer of 2011 I wrote a blog suggesting Arteta from Everton should be the man we signed to replace Fabregas. This, at a time when, as you would expect, our fans were desperate for a bigger name, went down like a lead balloon. A month later we signed him on deadline day. In May 2012, when Song was still at the club, I again wrote on Arteta, suggesting that Wenger should convert the Spaniard unto a DM, as he has all the intelligence and experience to be our Makelele. I was ridiculed for that piece and in August, having sold Alex Song, we did indeed see Arteta anchoring our midfield, allowing Ramsey t to have his best season in red and white and the team to win their first trophy in years.
MA8 Lifts FA Cup
Moving on over 5 years it seems the likeable, yet single-minded and determined Spaniard is to return to the club he served with distinction for 5 years on the pitch, as COACH. Many seem concerned at his lack of experience and are concerned he has not been a number one. In short, it is seen as a gamble. For me, it should not be seen as such IF the club get the structure, above him right. Why do I differ from so many other supporters? Because he is being brought in as first team COACH, not as manager. If we get the structure at the club correct, I feel this is a crucial distinction.
No one is disputing the fact Mikel Arteta is an accomplished COACH with a track record of improving talented players and taking them to a new level. Those denying this obvious fact are calling Pep, Sane, Sterling, De Bruyne liars, which they aren’t. I was told yesterday by a friend that Paul Davis, twice a title winner, under George Graham and for 16 years one of the leading trainers of coaches, at the PFA and now FA, who mentored Arteta thought is badges, described him as one of the best pupils he had worked with. His COACHING is modern, fresh, innovative and crucially enjoyed by his charges and the current Arsenal players, we know, found Emery’s methods dull and uninspiring. Much like the Bayern and Napoli squads under Ancelloti (no thanks.)
By now you won’t have failed to notice that I keep emboldening the words COACH and COACHING. This is because I consider this to be the key point at hand and it is why I welcome the Arteta appointment, but with reservations. Arsenal are looking to appoint a progressive, young, exciting COACH who can improve our squad, give our young talent confidence and implement a recognised structure and style. This is why I was not against the idea of Joachim Loew previously, despite his lack of club management, because Arsenal were not looking for a manager, but a first team COACH.
Defined Edu role linking with coach is key
Therefore, the pressing issue for me is not whether Arteta is the right man for the COACHING job because we know he is a superb COACH. The question is, what is the structure above him, the lines of reporting and who is responsible for ensuring that structure is established and understood, thus allowing Arteta to do his job. Who is the Director of Football? Is it Raul or is it Edu and what are their responsibilities? What Arteta will need to succeed is a proper relationship with the DOF, in my view Edu and the two need to trust each other to implement a plan. Edu and the club need to be clear on the style of football, the players who fit and do not fit that style and know the timescale and economic restrictions around implementing that strategy. Sanllehi can go and do the deals but it should be Edu overseeing the identification and scouting of the talent the coach requires to implement the plan and the lines of communication between Arteta, COACH and Edu, Director of Football should always be open and two-way.
In conclusion, I welcome the appointment o f a young and talented COACH with the obvious affinity wit the club a huge bonus. The caveat and the concern for me is not the young, inexperienced COACH but the structure and clear roles created to allow to be a successful COACH and only a COACH.
Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.
He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.
The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.
A very impressive article Dave. I applaud your insight to recommend Arteta while Song was playing for us. He became rightly so, a hero for the club and the fans.
I did criticise him near the end of his career as he lost any pace he had. I said as much in one of my blogs, but I complimented him at the same time. As Pep Guardiola found out, he is a very intelligent man. He compliments Pep with his understanding of tactics and football.
He realised in his last two years with Arsenal, that he could no longer cope with the speed of the Premiership and he adapted his game to suit. His reading of tactics and his ability to be at the right place at the right time disguised his lack of pace. Regrettably I noted that he began to look for spaces where he could go to to avoid direct contact and that was when I felt that he would have to go. As I say, I subconsciously credited him with admirable intelligence to read his own mind and body and to find a way to keep playing in our top league until Ano Domini finally caught up with him.
His record with City as a coach has drawn praise from Guardiola and the players of Man City. De Brune, who gave an exemplery exhibition against us on Sunday has praised him in the press on Sunday and at the same time, gave a withering description of how the players were drilled with a breakdown of Arsenal`s game and how they would beat us. It was obvious that Pep and Arteta were on a different planet than poor Lundberg and Emery before him.
At his best, Arsene Wenger could do that, and I do believe that Arteta would have similar talent, given the chance.
Thanks Victor
Excellent read as usual from you Dave, spot on all the points you mentioned, I am excited to see Arteta at Arsenal.
Whether Arteta is any better than Emery remains to be seen. Not only is the setup different but the quality of the players is completely different.
Thanks
good reading mate and i agree wholeheartedly with what you wrote,now for y point,rumours have i tht our players or cliuqedont want arteta as their manager,if that happen to be true( he rumours ) the bperfec soution is to get rid of the players and start ,anew with a brand young team,and i am going for that new team in a 4-3-3 formation.leno in goal back 4 ballerin—holding—mavroanos—thierney middle 3 smih-rowe–willock–saka–front 3 v pepe— nketiah( bring him back next month –martinelli
It is not true. Made up by Darren Lewis and Crossy distancing himself from the story